When they were teammates on the U.S. Olympic basketball team this summer, Knicks center Tyson Chandler made an effort to mentor New Orleans Hornets rookie Anthony Davis, sharing his knowledge on what it takes to be an effective post player.

Davis took it all in and has continued to emerge since helping Team USA win a gold medal at the London Olympics in August as a 19-year-old backup power forward. Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the June NBA draft, finally will play against Chandler. who played for the Hornets from 2006-09, Tuesday night at the New Orleans Arena when the Hornets take on the surging New York Knicks, who have a 7-1 record.

Davis has been as good as advertised. He is the Hornets’ second-leading scorer with a 16.0 average and top rebounder with a 8.3 average. Davis tweaked his left ankle for the third time in four days at Monday's practice, but it's minor and he will start tonight.

"He taught me how to play post defense when guys try to face up,’’ Davis said. "He showed me a lot of defensive schemes that he helped me out with. I worked with him every day after practice. I’m just trying to follow his footsteps.’’

said he only tried to be a positive influence toward Davis because he immediately saw his potential during the U.S Olympic basketball tryouts in Las Vegas last July.

"Obviously, I was going to go after him because he was a rookie,’’ Chandler said. "But he’s such a good kid, so I wanted to take that time to show him some things right after something happened in practice, pull him to the side, 'This is what you got to do.' I feel like he has great potential. He has great timing, he remains me of Marcus Camby.’’